أ ـ إمامُ المُصَلّينَ
A) The Imam of those Praying
1 . اَوَّل مَن صَلَّى
1. The First to Pray
737. رسول اللّه صلى الله عليه و آله :
737. The Prophet (SA) said:
أوَّلُ مَن صَلّى مَعي عَلِيٌّ .
“The first to pray with me was Ali.”
الفردوس : ج1 ص27 ح39 .
Al-Firdaws, vol. 1, p. 27, h. 39.
738. عنه صلى الله عليه و آله :
738.The Prophet (SA) said:
لَقَد صَلَّتِ المَلائِكَةُ عَلَيَّ وعَلى عَلِيٍّ سَبعَ سِنينَ ؛
“The angels blessed me and Ali for seven years,
لِأَ نّا كُنّا نُصَلّي لَيسَ مَعَنا أحَدٌ يُصَلّي غَيرَنا .
because we would pray where there was none other than us to pray.”
تاريخ دمشق : ج 42 ص 39 ح 8364 .
Tarikh Dimashq, vol.42, p. 39 h. 8364.
2 . اِهتِمامُهُ بِأَوَّلِ الوَقتِ
2. His Attention to the Prime time
739. إرشاد القلوب :
739. Irshad al-Qulub relates:
كانَ [عَلِيٌّ عليه السلام ] يَوما في حَربِ صِفّينَ
“One day at the battle of Siffin,
مُشتَغِلاً بِالحَربِ وَالقِتالِ ،
while Ali (AS) was engaged in battle
وهُوَ مَعَ ذلِكَ بَينَ الصَّفَّينِ
moving between the two lines,
يَرقُبُ الشَّمسَ ،
he looked at the sun attentively.
فَقالَ لَهُ ابنُ عَبّاسٍ : يا أميرَ المُؤمِنينَ ،
Ibn Abbas said to him: O Commander of the Faithful!
ما هذَا الفِعلُ ؟
What are you doing?
فَقالَ عليه السلام : أنظُرُ إلَى الزَّوالِ حَتّى نُصَلِّيَ .
He said (AS): I am looking for the zenith so that we may pray.
فَقالَ لَهُ ابنُ عَبّاسٍ : وهَل هذا وَقتُ صَلاةٍ ؟ !
Ibn Abbas said to him: Is this the time for prayer?!
إنَّ عِندَنا لَشُغُلاً بِالقِتالِ عَنِ الصَّلاةِ .
Indeed, we are distracted from prayer with fighting.
فَقالَ عليه السلام :
He (AS) said:
عَلامَ نُقاتِلُهُم ؟
Why are we fighting them?
إنَّما نُقاتِلُهُم عَلَى الصَّلاةِ .
Indeed, we are fighting them because of prayer.”
إرشاد القلوب : ص217 .
Irshad al-Qulub, p. 217.
3 . كيفيةُ صَلاتِهِ
3. The Manner of His Prayer
740. صحيح البخاري عن مطرف بن عبد اللّه:
740. Sahih al-Bukhari, reporting from Mutarrif Ibn ‘Abdullah, who said:
صَلَّيتُ خَلفَ عَلِيِّ بنِ أبي طالِبٍ عليه السلام ، أنَا وعِمرانُ بنُ حُصَينٍ ،
“Imran ibn Husain and I offered the prayer behind Ali ibn Abi Talib.
فَكانَ إذا سَجَدَ كَبَّرَ ،
When Ali prostrated, he said God is Greater,
وإذا رَفَعَ رَأسَهُ كَبَّرَ ،
when he raised his head he said God is Greater,
وإذا نَهَضَ مِنَ الرَّكعَتَينِ كَبَّرَ ،
and when he got up after the completion of two units [i.e. for the third unit of prayer] he said God is Greater.
فَلَمّا قَضَى الصَّلاةَ ،
On completion of the prayer
أخَذَ بِيَدي عِمرانُ بنُ حُصَينٍ فَقالَ :
Imran took my hand and said:
قَد ذَكَّرَني هذا صَلاةَ مُحَمَّدٍ صلى الله عليه و آله ،
He [i.e. Ali] made me remember the prayer of Muhammad,
أو قالَ : لَقَد صَلّى بِنا صَلاةَ مُحَمَّدٍ صلى الله عليه و آله .
or he said: He led us in prayer as Muhammad did.
صحيح البخاري : ج1 ص272 ح753 .
Sahih al-Bukhari, vol. 1, p. 272, h. 753.
741. الإمام الصادق عليه السلامـ فِي الإِمامِ عَلِيٍّ عليه السلام ـ:
741. Imam al-Sadiq (AS) said concerning Imam Ali (AS):
وإن كانَ لَيَقومُ إلَى الصَّلاةِ ، فَإِذا قالَ :
“He would stand for prayer, so when he said:
وَجَّهتُ وَجهي تَغَيَّرَ لَونُهُ ،
‘I have directed my face’, his colour would change
حَتّى يُعرَفُ ذلِكَ في وَجهِهِ .
to the extent that it was noticeable on his face.”
شرح نهج البلاغة : ج4 ص110 .
Sharh Nahj al-Balagha, vol. 4, p. 110.
742. عنه عليه السلام :
742. Imam al-Sadiq (AS) said:
كانَ عَلِيٌّ عليه السلام يَركَعُ
“Ali (AS) would bow down [in prayer],
فَيَسيلُ عَرَقُهُ حَتّى يَطَأَ في عَرَقِهِ مِن طولِ قِيامِهِ .
so his sweat would flow and pour on the ground so that he would tread his sweat due to his long standing.”
فلاح السائل : ص213 ح123 .
Falah al-Sail, p. 213, h. 123.
4 . اِهتِمامُهُ بِصَلاةِ اللَّيلِ
4. His Attention to Night Prayer
743. الإمام عليّ عليه السلام :
743. Imam Ali (AS) said:
ما تَرَكتُ صَلاةَ اللَّيلِ مُنذُ سَمِعتُ قَولَ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه و آله :
“I have never left the night prayer since I heard the word of the Prophet (SA):
صَلاةُ اللَّيلِ نورٌ ،
The night prayer is a light.
فَقالَ ابنُ الكَوّا : ولا لَيلَةَ الهَريرِ ؟
Ibn al-Kawwa said: Not even on the night of al-Harir?
قالَ : ولا لَيلَةَ الهَريرِ .
He said: Not even on the night of al-Harir.” [Al-Harir: refers to one of the nights at the battle of Siffin when the battle intensified, both armies were experiencing difficulties and approximately 70000 fighters were killed. (Taj al-‘Arus, vol. 7, p. 621.)]
المناقب لابن شهر آشوب : ج 2 ص 123 ، بحار الأنوار : ج 1 ص 17 ح 10 .
Al-Manaqib by Ibn Shar Ashub, vol. 2, p. 123. Bihar al-Anwar, vol. 1, p. 17, h. 10.
ب ـ إمامُ العابِدينَ
Leader of the Worshippers
744. الإمام عليّ عليه السلام :
744. Imam Ali (AS) said:
عَبَدتُ اللّهَ مَعَ رَسولِ اللّهِ صلى الله عليه و آله سَبعَ سِنينَ قَبلَ أن يَعبُدَهُ أحَدٌ مِن هذِهِ الاُمَّةِ .
“I had worshipped God with the Messenger of God (SA) for seven years before anyone from this Community could worship Him.”
المستدرك على الصحيحين : ج3 ص121 ح4585 .
Al-Mustadrak ala al-Sahihayn, vol. 3, p. 121, h. 4585.
745. الإمام الباقر عليه السلامـ فِي الإِمامِ عَلِيٍّ عليه السلام ـ:
745. Imam al-Baqir (AS), concerning Imam Ali, (AS) said:
ما أطاقَ أحَدٌ عَمَلَهُ،
“No one could endure his work.
وإن كانَ عَلِيُّ بنُ الحُسَينِ عليهماالسلام لَيَنظُرُ فِي الكِتابِ مِن كُتُبِ عَلِيٍّ عليه السلام
When Ali ibn al-Husain (AS) had a look at one of the books of Ali (AS),
فَيَضرِبُ بِهِ الأَرضَ ويَقولُ :
he would put it on the ground and say:
مَن يُطيقُ هذا ؟
Who can endure this?”
الكافي : ج8 ص130 ح100 .
Al-Kafi, vol. 8, p. 130, h. 100.
746. الإمام الصادق عليه السلام :
746. Imam al-Sadiq (AS) said:
إنَّ عَلِيّا عليه السلام في آخِرِ عُمُرِهِ كانَ يُصَلِّي في كُلِّ يَومٍ ولَيلَةٍ ألفَ رَكعَةٍ .
“In the last days of his life Ali (AS) in his old age would pray a thousand units [of prayer] every day and night.”
الكافي : ج4 ص154 ح1 .
Al-Kafi, vol. 4, p. 154, h. 1.
747. حلية الأولياء عن أبي صالح :
747. Hilyat al-Awliyah, reporting from Abu Salih, who said:
دَخَلَ ضِرارُ بنُ ضَمرَةَ الكِنانِيُّ عَلى مُعاوِيَةَ ،
“Dirar ibn Damra al-Kinani entered upon Muawiyah,
فَقالَ لَهُ :
so he said to him:
صِف لي عَلِيّا .
Describe for me Ali,
فَقالَ : أ وَتُعفيني يا أميرَ المُؤمِنينَ ؟
he said: O Commander of the Faithful, will you spare me?
قالَ : لا اُعفيكَ ،
He said: I will not spare you.
قالَ : أمّا إذ لابُدَّ ؛ فَإِنَّهُ كانَ وَاللّهِ بَعيدَ المَدى ، شَديدَ القُوى ،
He said: If I have to, indeed he was far-sighted, powerful,
يَقولُ فَصلاً ، ويَحكُمُ عَدلاً ،
speaking decisively, ruling justly,
يَتَفَجَّرُ العِلمُ من جَوانِبِهِ ،
knowledge gushed forth
وتَنطِقُ الحِكمَةُ مِن نَواحِيهِ ،
and wisdom was uttered from his sides,
يَستَوحِشُ مِن الدُّنيا وزَهرَتِها ،
he was estranged from the world and its blooming,
ويَستَأنِسُ بِاللَّيلِ وظُلمَتِهِ .
intimate with the night and its darkness.
كانَ وَاللّهِ غَزيرَ العَبرَةِ ،
By God, he was in copious tears,
طَويلَ الفِكرَةِ ،
engrossed in thought,
يُقَلِّبُ كَفَّهُ ، ويُخاطِبَ نَفسَهُ ،
grieved‚ remorseful,
يُعجِبُهُ مِن اللِّباسِ ما قَصُرَ ،
delighted with clothing that was short
ومِنَ الطَّعامِ ما جَشَبَ ،
and food that was coarse.
كانَ وَاللّهِ كَأَحَدِنا ؛ يُدنينا إذا أتَيناهُ ،
By God, he was like one of us; he would bring us close if we went to him
ويُجيبُنا إذا سَأَلناهُ ،
and answer us if we asked of him.
وكانَ مَعَ تَقَرُّبِهِ إلَينا وقُربِهِ مِنّا لا نُكَلِّمُهُ هَيبَةً لَهُ ؛
In spite of his proximity to us, we would not speak to him out of reverence for him.
فَإِن تَبَسَّمَ فَعَن مِثلِ اللُّؤلُؤِ المَنظومِ ،
When he smiled, [it was as if] it came from pearls arranged.
يُعَظِّمُ أهلَ الدِّينِ ،
He would honour the people of religion
ويُحِبُّ المَساكينَ ،
and love the poor.
لا يَطمَعُ القَوِيُّ في باطِلِهِ ،
The powerful would not have hope in his falsehood,
ولا يَيأَسُ الضَّعيفُ مِن عَدلِهِ .
nor would the weak despair of his justice.
فَأَشهَدُ بِاللّهِ لَقَد رَأَيتُهُ في بَعضِ مَواقِفِهِ
I bear witness to God that I saw him in one of his positions,
وقَد أرخَى اللَّيلُ سُدولَهُ ،
while the night lowered its veils
وغارَت نُجومُهُ يَميلُ في مِحرابِهِ ،
and its stars set [in the west], bending in his prayer niche‚
قابِضا عَلى لِحيَتِهِ ، يَتَمَلمَلُ تَمَلمُلَ السَّليمِ ،
holding his beard and fidgeting like him who has been bitten by a snake‚
ويَبكي بُكاءَ الحَزينِ ، فَكَأَنّي أسمَعُهُ الآنَ وهُوَ يَقولُ :
and weeping like a grieved one. It is as if I hear him say to this world:
يا رَبَّنا يا رَبَّنا ـ يَتَضَرَّعُ إلَيهِ ـ ثُمَّ يَقولُ لِلدُّنيا : إلَيَّ تَغَرَّرتِ ! إلَيَّ تَشَوَّفتِ !
Do you seek to deceive me? Are you yearning for me!
هَيهاتَ هَيهاتَ ،
Far be it, far be it.
غُرّي غَيري ،
Deceive someone else.
قَد بَتَتُّكِ ثَلاثا ،
I have divorced you thrice.
فَعُمُرُكِ قَصيرٌ ،
Your life is short,
ومَجلِسُكِ حَقيرٌ ،
your gatherings disliked,
وخَطَرُكِ يَسيرٌ ،
and your danger limited.
آهِ آهِ مِن قِلَّةِ الزّادِ ،
Alas for the lack of provisions,
وبُعدِ السَّفَرِ ،
the long journey
ووَحشَةِ الطَّريقِ .
and the loneliness of the path.’
فَوَكَفَت دُموعُ مُعاوِيَةَ عَلى لِحيَتِهِ ما يَملِكُها ،
The tears of Muawiyah began to flow [drop by drop] onto his beard uncontrollably
وجَعَلَ يَنشُفُها بِكُمِّهِ
so he dried it with his sleeve.
وقَدِ اختَنَقَ القَومُ بِالبُكاءِ ،
The people [present] also choked on their tears,
فَقالَ : كَذا كانَ أبُو الحَسَنِ رحمه الله !
when he said: Thus was Abu al-Hasan (AS)!
كَيفَ وَجدُكَ عَلَيهِ يا ضِرارُ ؟
O Dirar, how is your grief at him?
قالَ : وَجدُ مَن ذُبِحَ واحِدُها في حِجرِها ،
He said: The grief of a lady whose child has been killed on her lap,
لا تَرقَأُ دَمعَتُها ،
her tears do not stop
ولا يَسكُنُ حُزنُها .
nor does her sorrow end.
ثُمَّ قامَ فَخَرَجَ .
He then got up and left.”
حلية الأولياء : ج 1 ص 84 .
Hilyat al-Awliyah, vol. 1, p. 84.
748. الخصال عن نوف البكالي :
748. Al-Khisal, reporting from Nawf al-Bikali, who said:
بِتُّ لَيلَةً عِندَ أميرِ المُؤمِنينَ عَلِيٍّ عليه السلام ،
“I spent a night with the Commander of the Faithful, Ali (AS).
فَكانَ يُصَلِّي اللَّيلَ كُلَّهُ ،
He would pray the whole night
ويَخرُجُ ساعَةً بَعدَ ساعَةٍ ؛
and would go forth at every hour,
فَيَنظُرُ إلَى السَّماءِ ويَتلُو القُرآنَ
looking into the sky and reciting the Qur’an.
قالَ : فَمُرَّ بي بَعدَ هُدوءٍ مِنَ اللَّيلِ ،
After a while he passed by me
فَقالَ : يا نَوفُ ، أراقِدٌ أنتَ أم رامِقٌ ؟
and said: O Nawf, are you asleep or awake?
قُلتُ : بَل رامِقٌ ،
I said: I am, awake.
أرمُقُكَ بِبَصَري يا أميرَ المُؤمِنينَ .
I am looking at you, O Commander of the Faithful.
قالَ : طوبى لِلزّاهِدينَ فِي الدُّنيا ،
He said: Blessed be those who abstain from this world
وَالرّاغِبينَ فِي الآخِرَةِ ،
and seek to the Hereafter.
اُولئِكَ الَّذينَ اتَّخَذُوا الأَرضَ بَساطا ،
They are those who have taken the earth as a carpet,
وتُرابَها فِراشا ،
its soil as a bed,
وماءَها طيبا ،
its water as perfume,
وَالقُرآنَ دِثارا ،
the Qur’an as the outer vesture
وَالدُّعاءَ شِعارا ،
and supplication as the underclothing. [ Editor’s note: That is blessed is he who is attached to them (i.e. the Qur’an and the supplication) as one’s skin is attached to his underclothes and clothes alluding that blessed is he who accompanies (or is accustomed to) the Qur’an and the supplication. See Bihar al-Anwar‚ vol. 66‚ p. 275 f.; see also Nahj al-Balagha‚ aphorism 104.]
وقَرَّضوا مِنَ الدُّنيا تَقريضا عَلى مِنهاجِ عيسَى بنِ مَريَمَ عليه السلام .
They have cut off themselves from the world completely in accordance with the way of Jesus, son of Mary (AS).”
الخصال : ص337 ح40 .
Al-Khisal, p. 337, h. 40.
ج ـ إمامُ الدّاعينَ
Leader of the Supplicators
1 . أدعِيَتُهُ لِلآخَرِينَ
1. His Supplication for Others
749. الإمام عليّ عليه السلامـ في وَصِيَّتِهِ لِلحَسَنِ عليه السلام عِندَ انصِرافِهِ مِن صِفّينَ ـ:
749. Imam Ali (AS) said in his will to [Imam] Hasan after returning from the Battle of Siffin:
أستَودِعُ اللّهَ دينَكَ ودُنياكَ ،
“I entrust your religion and your world to God,
وأَسأَلُهُ خَيرَ القَضاءِ لَكَ فِي العاجِلَةِ وَالآجِلَةِ ،
ask of Him the best of decree for you in this world now and in the future,
وَالدُّنيا وَالآخِرَةِ ، وَالسَّلامُ .
in this world and the next‚ and that’s all.”
نهج البلاغة : الكتاب 31 .
Nahj al-Balagha, Letter 31.
750. عنه عليه السلامـ لَمّا قُتِلَ عَمّارٌ ـ:
750. Imam Ali (AS) said, – when Ammar was killed - :
رَحِمَ اللّهُ عَمّارا يَومَ أسلَمَ ،
“May God have mercy on Ammar the day he submitted to Islam.
ورَحِمَ اللّهُ عَمّارا يَومَ قُتِلَ ،
May God have mercy on Ammar the day he was killed.
ورَحِمَ اللّهُ عَمّارا يَومَ يُبعَثُ حَيّا .
May God have mercy on Ammar the day he will be resurrected alive.”
أنساب الأشراف : ج1 ص197 .
Ansab al-Ashraf, vol. 1, p. 197.
751. عنه عليه السلامـ لِهاشِمٍ المِرقالِ ـ:
751. Imam Ali (AS) said, to Hashim al-Mirqal:
اللّهُمَّ ارزُقهُ الشَّهادَةَ في سَبيلِكَ ،
“O God, provide him with martyrdom in Your path
وَالمُرافَقَةَ لِنَبِيِّكَ صلى الله عليه و آله .
and companionship of your Prophet (SA).”
وقعة صفّين : ص112 .
Waqat Siffin, p. 112.
2 . أدعِيَتُهُ فِي الاِستِعانَةِ في أمرِ الوِلايَةِ
2. His Supplications for Seeking Assistance in the Issue of Wilayah
752. الإمام عليّ عليه السلام :
752. Imam Ali (AS) said:
اللّهُمَّ إنّي عَبدُكَ ووَلِيُّكَ ،
“O God, indeed I am Your servant and friend,
اختَرتَني وَارتَضَيتَني ،
You have chosen me and are pleased with me,
ورَفَعتَني وكَرَّمتَني بِما أورَثتَني مِن مَقامِ أصفِيائِكَ ،
You have elevated me and ennobled me by that which You have bequeathed
me of the rank of Your chosen ones
وخِلافَةِ أوليائِكَ ،
and the vicegerency of Your friends.
وأغنَيتَني وأفقَرتَ النّاسَ في دينِهِم ودُنياهُم ،
You have enriched me and impoverished people in their religion and their lives.
وأعزَزتَني وأذلَلتَ العِبادَ إلَيَّ ،
You have honoured me and humbled the servants towards me.
وأسكَنتَ قَلبي نورَكَ ولَم تُحوِجني إلى غَيرِكَ ،
You have placed Your light in my heart and have not made me stand in need of other than You.
وأنعَمتَ عَلَيَّ وأنعَمتَ بي ،
You have blessed me and blessed [others] through me.
ولَم تَجعَل مِنَّةً عَلَيَّ لِأَحَدٍ سِواكَ ،
You have not appointed a favour upon me to be shown by anyone other than You.
وأقَمتَني لِاءِحياءِ حَقِّكَ ،
You have established me to revive Your right,
وَالشَّهادَةِ عَلى خَلقِكَ ،
to bear witness against Your creation,
وأن لا أرضى ولا أسخَطَ إلّا لِرِضاكَ وسَخَطِكَ ،
that I should not be pleased or displeased except for that which pleases You and displeases You,
ولا أقولَ إلّا حَقّا ، ولا أنطِقَ إلّا صِدقا .
and that I should only speak the truth and say only what is true.”
المناقب لابن شهر آشوب : ج2 ص118 .
Al-Manaqib, by Ibn Shar Ashub, vol. 2, p. 118.
3 . أدعِيَتُهُ فِي الأَحوالِ الخاصَّةِ
3. His Supplications in Specific Conditions
3 / 1 . عِندَ النَّومِ
3.1 When Sleeping
753. الإمام عليّ عليه السلامـ كانَ إذا نامَ يَقولُ ـ:
753. Imam Ali (AS) would say: when he went to sleep:
اللّهُمَّ أسلَمتُ نَفسي إلَيكَ ،
“O God, I have submitted myself to You,
ووَجَّهتُ وَجهي إلَيكَ ،
turned my face towards You,
وفَوَّضتُ أمري إلَيكَ ،
entrusted my affairs to You,
وألجَأتُ ظَهري إلَيكَ ،
committed my situation to You.
آمَنتُ بِكِتابِكَ المُنزَلِ ،
I believe in Your revealed Book
ونَبِيِّكَ المُرسَلِ .
and Your sent Prophet.”
عمل اليوم والليلة للنسائي : ص454 ح768 .
Amal al-Yawm wa al-Laila, by al-Nasa’i, p. 454, h. 768.
3 / 2 . عِندَ لُبسِ الثَّوبِ الجَديدِ
3.2 When Wearing New Clothes
754. الإمام عليّ عليه السلامـ بَعدَمَا اشتَرى قَميصا ولَبِسَهُ ـ:
754. Imam Ali (AS) said, after he had bought a new shirt and worn it - :
الحَمدُ لِلّهِ الَّذي رَزَقَني مِنَ الرِّياشِ ما أتَجَمَّلُ بِهِ فِي النّاسِ ،
“All praise belongs to God, Who has provided me with clothing, that I may beautify myself among people,
ووارى سوَءَتي ،
conceal my private parts,
وسَتَرَ عَورَتي ،
and cover my defects.
الحَمدُ لِلّهِ رَبِّ العالَمينَ .
All praise belongs to God, Lord of all the worlds.”
دعائم الإسلام : ج2 ص157 ح556 .
Daaim al-Islam, vol. 2, p. 157, h. 556.
3 / 3 . عِندَ الأَكلِ وَالشُّربِ
3.3 When Eating and Drinking
755. الإمام الباقر عليه السلام :جاءَ قَنبَرٌ مَولى عَلِيٍّ عليه السلام بِفِطرِهِ إلَيهِ . . .
755. Imam al-Baqir (AS) said: “Qanbar, the retainer of Imam Ali, came to him with his breakfast . . .
فَأَخَذَ القَدَحَ ، فَلَمّا أرادَ أن يَشرَبَ قالَ : بِسمِ اللّهِ ،
He took the glass and, when he wanted to drink, he said: In the Name of God.
اللّهُمَّ لَكَ صُمنا ،
O God, to You we have fasted
وعَلى رِزقِكَ أفطَرنا ،
and with Your sustenance we have broken our fast,
فَتَقَبَّل مِنّا ،
so accept it from us,
إنَّكَ أنتَ السَّميعُ العَليمُ .
You are the All-hearing and All-knowledgeable.”
تهذيب الأحكام : ج4 ص200 ح578 .
Tahdhib al-Ahkam, vol. 4, p. 200, h. 578.
3 / 4 . عِندَ الوضُوءِ
3.4 At the Time of Ablution
756. الإمام عليّ عليه السلام :ـ إذا فَرَغَ مِن وُضوئِهِ ـ:
756. Imam Ali (AS) said when he completed his ablution:
اللّهُمَّ اجعَلني مِنَ التَّوّابينَ ، وَاجعَلني مِنَ المُتَطَهِّرينَ .
“O God, place me among the repenters and place me among the purified.”
الدعاء للطبراني : ص141 ح392 .
Al-Dua, by al-Tabarani, p. 141, h. 392.
3 / 5 . عِندَ دُخولِ المَسجِدِ
3.5 When Entering the Mosque
757. الإمام عليّ عليه السلامـ إذا دَخَلَ المَسجِدَ ـ:
757. Imam Ali (AS) said, when he entered the mosque:
بِسمِ اللّهِ وبِاللّهِ ،
“In the Name of God and with God,
السَّلامُ عَلَيكَ أيُّهَا النَّبِيُّ ورَحمَةُ اللّهِ وبَرَكاتُهُ ،
Peace be upon You, O Prophet, and the Mercy of God and His Blessings.
السَّلامُ عَلَينا وعَلى عِبادِ اللّهِ الصّالِحينَ .
Peace be upon us and the righteous servants of God.”
دعائم الإسلام : ج1 ص150 .
Daaim al-Islam, vol. 1, p. 150.
3 / 6 . عِندَما مَدَحَهُ قَومٌ في وَجهِهِ
3.6 When People Praised Him in His Presence
758. الإمام عليّ عليه السلامـ لَمّا مَدَحَهُ قَومٌ في وَجهِهِ ـ:
758. Imam Ali (AS) said, when people praised him in his presence:
اللّهُمَّ إنَّكَ أعلَمُ بي مِن نَفسي ،
“O God, You are more knowledgeable about me than myself,
وأنَا أعلَمُ بِنَفسي مِنهُم ،
and I am more knowledgeable about myself than they are.
اللّهُمَّ اجعَلنا خَيرا مِمّا يَظُنُّونَ ،
O God, make me better than what they think
وَاغفِر لَنا ما لا يَعلَمونَ .
and forgive us that which they know not.”
نهج البلاغة : الحكمة 100 .
Nahj al-Balagha, Aphorism 100.
د ـ إمامُ المُجاهِدينَ
4. The Leader of the Fighters
759. رسول اللّه صلى الله عليه و آلهـ لِعَلِيٍّ عليه السلام ـ:
759. The Prophet (SA) said to Ali (AS):
أنتَ . . . أشجَعُهُم قَلبا فِي لِقاءِ الحَربِ ،
“Among them you . . . are the most stout-hearted (and courageous) in battle,
وأجوَدُهُم كَفّا ،
the most, open-handed (and generous)
وأزهَدُهُم فِي الدُّنيا ،
the most ascetic in this world
وأشَدُّهُم جِهادا .
and the most intense in fighting.”
الفضائل لإبن شاذان : ص123 .
Al-Fadail, by ibn Shadhan, p. 123.
760. عنه صلى الله عليه و آله :
760. The Prophet (SA) said:
أفضَلُكُم عَلِيُّ بنُ أبي طالِبٍ ،
“The best of you is Ali ibn Abi Talib:
أقدَمُكُم إسلاما ،
he is the oldest of you in his submission [to Islam],
وأوفَرُكُم إيمانا ،
the strongest in faith,
وأكثَرُكُم عِلما ،
the most knowledgeable,
وأرجَحُكُم حِلما ،
the most forbearing,
وأشَدُّكُم لِلّهِ غَضَبا ،
the fiercest in his anger for God
وأشَدُّكُم نِكايَةً فِي الغَزوِ وَالجِهادِ .
and the most intense of you in battle and struggle.”
تفسير فرات : ص496 ح651 .
Tafsir Furat, p. 496, h. 651.
ه ـ إمامُ المُستَضعَفينَ
5. Leader of the Oppressed
761. الإمام عليّ عليه السلام :إنَّ اللّهَ جَعَلَني إماما لِخَلقِهِ ؛
761. Imam Ali (AS) said: “ Indeed, God has appointed me the Imam for His creation.
فَفَرَضَ عَلَيَّ التَّقديرَ في نَفسي ومَطعَمي ومَشرَبي ومَلبَسي كَضُعَفاءِ النّاسِ ؛
Therefore‚ He made it obligatory for me to discipline myself in the matters of food‚ drinks and clothes to the level of the underpreviledged‚
كَي يَقتَدِيَ الفَقيرُ بِفَقري ،
so that the poor people follow in my poverty
ولا يُطغِيَ الغَنِيَّ غِناهُ .
and the rich do not become rebellious because of their riches.”
الكافي : ج1 ص410 ح1 .
Al-Kafi, vol. 1, p. 410, h. 1.
762. الإمام الباقر عليه السلام :
762. Imam al-Baqir (AS) said:
وَاللّهِ ، إن كانَ عَلِيٌّ عليه السلام لَيَأكُلُ أكلَ العَبدِ ،
“By God, Ali (AS) would eat as a slave eats
ويَجلِسُ جِلسَةَ العَبدِ ،
and sit as a slave sits.
وإن كانَ لَيَشتَرِي القَميصَينِ السُّنُبلانِيَّينِ فَيُخَيِّرُ غُلامَهُ خَيرَهُما ،
He would buy two long shirts and offer the better one to his servant
ثُمَّ يَلبَسُ الآخَرَ ،
and wear the other.
فَإِذا جاز أصابِعَهُ قَطَعَهُ ، وإذا جازَ كَعبَهُ حَذَفَهُ .
If it was longer than his fingers or his ankle, he would cut it.
ولَقَد وَلِيَ خَمسَ سِنينَ
He ruled for five years
ما وَضَعَ آجُرَّةً عَلى آجُرَّةٍ ،
during which he did not lay a [baked] brick on a [baked] brick,
ولا لَبِنَةً عَلى لَبِنَةٍ ،
nor a tile on a tile,
ولا أقطَعَ قَطيعا ،
nor did he expropriate land,
ولا أورَثَ بَيضاءَ ولا حَمراءَ ،
or bequeath gold and silver.
وإن كانَ لَيُطعِمُ النّاسَ خُبزَ البُرِّ وَاللَّحمِ ،
He would feed the people wheat bread and meat,
ويَنصَرِفُ إلى مَنزِلِهِ
but he would return home
ويَأكُلُ خُبزَ الشَّعيرِ وَالزَّيتِ وَالخَلِّ ،
to eat barley bread, oil and vinegar.
وما وَرَدَ عَلَيهِ أمرانِ كِلاهُما لِلّهِ رِضىً
No two things entered upon him, wherewith God is well-pleased,
إلّا أخَذَ بِأَشَدِّهِما عَلى بَدَنِهِ .
except that he would take the more intense to his body.”
الأمالي للصدوق : ص 356 ح 437 .
Al-Amali, by al-Saduq, p. 356, h. 437.
1 . طَعامُهُ
5.1. His Food
763. الإمام عليّ عليه السلام:
763. Imam Ali (AS) said:
أكتَفي مِن دُنياكُم بِمِلحي وأقراصي ،
“I content myself from your world with my salt and loaves (of bread).
فَبِتَقوَى اللّهِ أرجو خَلاصي ،
Through the God-wariness I seek my salvation.
ما لِعَلِيٍّ ونعيمٍ يَفنى ،
What has Ali to do with pleasures bound to annihilation
ولَذَّةٍ تَنتِجُهَا المَعاصي !
and enjoyments produced by sins?”
الأمالي للصدوق : ص722 ح988 .
Al-Amali, by al-Saduq, p. 722, h. 988.
764. تنبيه الخواطر :
764. Tanbih al-Khawatir, relates:
رُوِيَ أنَّ أميرَ المُؤمِنينَ عليه السلام كانَ أكلُهُ قُرصَ الشَّعيرِ
“It is reported that the food of the Commander of the Faithful (AS) was a loaf of barley bread
وَالمِلحَ الجَريشَ .
and crushed salt.”1849
تنبيه الخواطر : ج1 ص154 .
Tanbih al-Khawatir, vol. 1, p. 154
765. الكامل في التاريخـ في ذِكرِ الإِمامِ عَلِيٍّ عليه السلام ـ:
765. Al-Kamil fi al-Tarikh concerning Imam Ali (AS):
كانَ يَختِمُ عَلَى الجِرابِ الَّذي فيهِ دَقيقُ الشَّعيرِ الَّذي يَأكُلُ مِنهُ ،
“He would seal the sack of barley flour he would eat
ويَقولُ :
and would say:
لا اُحِبُّ أن يَدخُلَ بَطني
‘I do not love anything to enter my stomach
إلّا ما أعلَمُ .
except that which I know.’ ”
الكامل في التاريخ : ج2 ص443 .
Al-Kamil fi al-Tarikh, vol. 2, p. 443.
766. الغارات عن عقبة بن علقمة :
766. Al-Gharat, reporting from Uqba ibn Alqama, who said:
دَخَلتُ عَلى عَلِيٍّ عليه السلام فَإِذا بَينَ يَدَيهِ لَبَنٌ حامِضٌ ـ آذَتني حُموضَتُهُ ـ وكِسَرٌ يابِسَةٌ ،
“I entered upon Ali (AS) and beheld, in front of him was sour milk whose sourness irritated me and a piece of dry bread.
فَقُلتُ : يا أميرَ المُؤمِنينَ ، أ تَأكُلُ مِثلَ هذا ؟ !
I said: ‘O Commander of the Faithful, are you eating something like this?!’
فَقالَ لي : يا أبَا الجَنوبِ ،
He said to me: ‘O Aba al-Janub,
رَأَيتُ رَسولَ اللّهِ صلى الله عليه و آله يَأكُلُ أيبَسَ مِن هذا ،
I saw the Messenger of God (SA) eating [bread] drier than this
ويَلبَسُ أخشَنَ مِن هذا ـ وأشارَ إلى ثِيابِهِ ـ
and wearing clothes coarser than this, (he pointing to his clothes).
فَإِن أنَا لَم آخُذ بِما أخَذَ بِهِ خِفتُ ألّا ألحَقَ بِهِ .
If I do not take [the path] which he took, I fear that I may not join him.’ ”
الغارات : ج 1 ص 84 .
Al-Gharat, vol. 1, p. 84.
2 . لِباسُهُ
5.2. His Clothing
767. الإمام عليّ عليه السلام :وَاللّهِ ، لَقَد رَقَّعتُ مِدرَعَتي هذِهِ حَتَّى استَحيَيتُ مِن راقِعِها ،
767. Imam Ali (AS) said: “By God, I have been putting patches on my shirts until that I became shy of the patcher.
ولَقَد قالَ لي قائِلٌ :
Someone said to me:
أ لا تَنبِذُها عَنكَ ؟ !
Would you not discard it?!
فَقُلتُ : اغرُب عَنّي ،
I said: Get away from me.
فَعِندَ الصَّباحِ يَحمَدُ القَومُ السُّرى . (عِندَ الصَّبَاحِ يَحمدُ القَومُ السُّرَى : مثل يضرب للرجل يحتمل المشقّة رجاء الراحة، مجمع الأمثال : ج2 ص 318 الرقم 2382) .
‘Only in the morning do people speak highly of the night journey.’” [A proverb applied to him who tolerates hardship in the hope of comfort. See Majma‘ al-Amthal‚ vol. 2‚ p. 318‚ No. 2382.]
نهج البلاغة : الخطبة 160 .
Nahj al-Balagha, Sermon 160.
768. الإمام الباقر عليه السلام :
768. Imam al-Baqir (AS) said:
إنَّ عَلِيّا عليه السلام كانَ لا يَلبَسُ إلَا البَياضَ أكثَرَ ما يَلبَسُ ،
“Ali (AS) would most frequently wear the white
ويَقولُ :
and would say:
فيهِ تَكفينُ المَوتى .
The dead are shrouded in it.”
قرب الإسناد : ص152 ح552 .
Qurb a-Isnad, p. 152, h. 552.
769. الكافي عن زرارة بن أعين :
769. Al-Kafi, reporting from Zurara ibn Ayan, who said:
رَأَيتُ قَميصَ عَلِيٍّ عليه السلام الَّذي قُتِلَ فيهِ عِندَ أبي جَعفَرٍ عليه السلام ،
“I saw the shirt of Ali (AS) in which he was killed with Abi Jafar [Imam al-Baqir] (AS).
فَإِذا أسفَلُهُ اثنا عَشَرَ شِبرا وبَدَنُهُ ثَلاثَةُ أشبارٍ ،
Its bottom was twelve hand spans and its body three hand spans;
ورَأَيتُ فيهِ نَضحَ دَمٍ .
and I also saw a stain of blood on it.”
الكافي : ج6 ص457 ح9 .
Al-Kafi, vol. 6, p. 457, h. 9.
3 . بَيتُهُ
5.3. His House
770. الإمام الباقر عليه السلامـ في صِفَةِ أميرِ المُؤمِنينَ عليه السلام ـ:
770. Imam al-Baqir (AS) said, describing the Commander of the Faithful:
لَقَد وَلِيَ النّاسَ خَمسَ سِنينَ ،
“He ruled over the people for five years
فَما وَضَعَ آجُرَّةً عَلى آجُرَّةٍ ،
during which he did not lay a [baked] brick on a [baked] brick,
ولا لَبِنَةً عَلى لَبِنَةٍ .
nor a tile on a tile.
الكافي : ج8 ص130 ح100 .
Al-Kafi, vol. 8, p. 130, h. 100.
4 . شِراؤُهُ
5.4. His Buying
771. الطبقات الكبرى عن فرّوخ :
771. Al-Tabaqat al-Kubra, reporting from Farrukh, who said:
رَأَيتُ عَلِيّا في بَني ديوارٍ وأنَا غُلامٌ ،
“I saw Ali (AS) entering upon the tribe of Diwar when I was a boy.
فَقالَ : أ تَعرِفُني ؟
He said: ‘Do you know me?’
فَقُلتُ : نَعَم ، أنتَ أميرُ المُؤمِنينَ .
I said: ‘Yes, you are the Commander of the Faithful.’
ثُمَّ أتى آخَرَ فَقالَ : أ تَعرِفُني ؟
Then he came to another person and said: ‘Do you know me?’
فَقالَ : لا ،
He said: ‘No.’
فَاشتَرى مِنهُ قَميصا زابِيّا ، فَلَبِسَهُ ،
He then bought from him a Zabi shirt and wore it,
فَمَدَّ كُمَّ القَميصِ فَإِذا هُوَ مَعَ أصابِعِهِ ،
stretched the sleeve of the shirt till his fingers
فَقالَ : لَهُ كُفَّهُ .
and said to him: ‘Hem it.’
فَلَمّا كَفَّهُ قالَ :
After he had hemmed it he said:
الحَمدُللِّهِ الَّذي كَسا عَلِيَّ بنَ أبي طالِبٍ .
‘Praise be to God who has clothed Ali ibn Abi Talib.’ ”
الطبقات الكبرى : ج3 ص28 .
Al-Tabaqat al-Kubra, vol. 3, p. 28.
5 . مُواساتُهُ
5.5. His Beneficence
772. الإمام الباقر عليه السلامـ في صِفَةِ أميرِ المُؤمِنينَ عليه السلام ـ:
772. Imam al-Baqir (AS) said, describing the Commander of the Faithful:
إن كانَ لَيَشتَرِي القَميصَ السُّنبُلانِيَّ ،
“He would buy two long shirts and offer the better one to his servant
ثُمَّ يُخَيِّرُ غُلامَهُ خَيرَهُما ثُمَّ يَلبَسُ الباقِيَ .
and then wear the other.”
الكافي : ج8 ص30 ح100 .
Al-Kafi, vol. 8, p. 30, h. 100.
6 . الجَمعُ بَينَ العِبادَةِ وَالعَمَلِ
5.6. Combination of Worship and Work
773. عدّة الداعي :
773. Øddat al-Da‘i, relates:
يُروى عَن سَيِّدِنا أميرِ المُؤمِنينَ عليه السلام
“It is reported from our master, the Commander of the Faithful (AS),
أنَّهُ لَمّا كانَ يَفرُغُ مِنَ الجِهادِ يَتَفَرَّغُ لِتَعليمِ النّاسِ وَالقَضاءِ بَينَهُم ،
that when he returned from battle, he would dedicate himself to teaching people and passing judgements.
فَإِذا يَفرُغُ مِن ذلِكَ اشتَغَلَ في حائِطٍ لَهُ يَعمَلُ فيهِ بِيَدِهِ ،
When he completed that, he would occupy himself in his orchard wherein he worked,
وهُوَ مَعَ ذلِكَ ذاكِرٌ لِلّهِ جَلَّ جَلالُهُ .
while he was remembering God‚ the Great and Almighty.”
عدّة الداعي : ص101 .
‘uddat al-Da‘i, p. 101.
774. حلية الأولياءـ فِي الإِمامِ عَلِيٍّ عليه السلام ـ:
774. Hilyat al-Awliya’ relates concerning Imam Ali (AS):
كانَ عليه السلام إذا لَزِمَهُ فِي العَيشِ الضّيقُ وَالجَهدُ
“Whenever he experienced difficulty and hardship in his livelihood,
أعرَضَ عَنِ الخَلقِ ،
he would turn away from people
فَأَقبَلَ عَلَى الكَسبِ وَالكَدِّ .
and turn to earning and hard work.”
حلية الأولياء : ج1 ص70 .
Hilyat al-Awliya, vol. 1, p. 70.
775. الإمام الصادق عليه السلام :
775. Imam al-Sadiq (AS) said:
كانَ أميرُ المُؤمِنينَ ـ صَلَواتُ اللّهِ عَلَيهِ ـ يَحتَطِبُ ويَستَقي ويَكنُسُ ،
“The Commander of the Faithful – May God’s blessings be upon him – would gather wood, draw water and sweep [the house]
وكانَت فاطِمَةُ ـ سَلامُ اللّهِ عَلَيها ـ تَطحَنُ وتَعجِنُ وتَخبِزُ .
and Fatima – May the peace of God be upon her – would grind flour, knead it and bake bread.”
الكافي : ج5 ص86 ح1 .
Al-Kafi, vol. 5, p. 86, h. 1.
و ـ إمامُ المُتَصَدِّقينَ
6. The Leader of the Charitable
1 . آيَةٌ ما عَمِلَ بِها غَيرُ الإِمامِ عليه السلام
6.1. A Verse Only the Imam Acted upon
776. الإمام عليّ عليه السلام :
776. Imam Ali (AS) said: “‘
آيَةٌ مِن كِتابِ اللّهِ لَم يَعمَل بِها أحَدٌ قَبلي ،
“There is a verse in the Book of God‚
ولا يَعمَل بِها أحَدٌ بَعدي ،
on which no one has acted before me‚ nor shall anyone after me‚
كانَ عِندي دينارٌ فَصَرَفتُهُ بِعَشَرَةِ دَراهِمَ ،
that is‚ ‘the verse of conspiring’ (Ayat al-Najwa). I had a dinar (i.e. a golden coin) which I exchanged for ten dirhams (i.e. silver coins).
فَكُنتُ إذا جِئتُ إلَى النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه و آله تَصَدَّقتُ بِدِرهَمٍ ،
Whenever I came to the Prophet (s.a.w)‚ I used to give one dirham as a freewill offering in advance.
فَنُسِخَت ، فَلَم يَعمَل بِها أحَدٌ قَبلي ؛
Then it was abrogated.
«يَـأَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ إِذَا نَاجَيْتُمُ الرَّسُولَ فَقَدِّمُواْ بَيْنَ يَدَىْ نَجْوَاكُمْ صَدَقَةً».
“O you who have faith! When you talk secretly to the Messenger‚ offer a charity before your secret talk.” Quran, 58: 12-13.
تفسير الطبري : ج14 الجزء 28 ص20 .
Tafsir al-Tabari‚ vol. 14‚ part 28‚ p. 20.
2 . صَدَقاتُهُ
6.2. His Alms
777. الإمام عليّ عليه السلام :
777. Imam Ali (AS) said:
لَقَد رَأَيتُني مَعَ رَسولِ اللّهِ صلى الله عليه و آله وإنّي لَأَربُطُ الحَجَرَ عَلى بَطني مِنَ الجوعِ ،
“ Indeed, I would see myself with the Messenger of God (SA) tying stones on my stomach out of hunger,
وإنَّ صَدَقَتِي اليَومَ لَأَربَعونَ ألفا .
when my alms today are forty thousand [coins]”.
مسند ابن حنبل : ج1 ص334 ح1367 .
Musnad Ibn Hanbal, vol. 1, p. 334, h. 1367.
778. الإمام الصادق عليه السلام :
778. Imam al-Sadiq (AS) said:
أعتَقَ عَلِيٌّ عليه السلام ألفَ مَملوكٍ مِمّا عَمِلَت يَداهُ
Ali (AS) set free a thousand slaves [as a result] of the work of his hands,
وإن كانَ عِندَكُم ،
إنَّما حَلواهُ التَّمرُ وَاللَّبَنُ ،
even though his sweetmeats were dates and milk
وثِيابُهُ الكَرابيسُ .
and his clothes canvas.”
الغارات : ج1 ص92 .
Al-Gharat, vol. 1, p. 92.
